bigbrowntruck

I am surprising my daughter with a trip to New York on March 19 for 3nts. My sister is tagging along and I would love any money saving ideas or tips. I have our plane tickets and am leaning towards the Westin since they have a great 189nt rate.

yk

For money-saving ideas, start with these 2:

the 100 Best Free Things to do in NYC
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35143958

and
a list of Free Waking tours and Free guided tours in NYC
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35180832

nytraveler

The main branch of the NY Public LIbarary is free and has some wonderful exhibits - as well as an incredible reading room. (This is a research library, not the lending type.)

And many of the museums have a pay what you can policy.

The Staten Island ferry runs every 15 minutes or so and gives great views of the harbor, the Statue of Liberty and of the city skyline on the way back.

Central Park has a lot to do if you get extra warm weather - other wise probbly too cold to see much.

Centralparkgirl

bigbrowntruck - could I be your daughter too? What a fantastic surprise for dd!
The above responses and links give you loads to think about. But please consider at least one Bway play.
Discount tickets available at playbill.com and broadwaybox.com

butnotrmpt

for discount Broadway tickets - join theatermania and playbill. Your daughter might love In the Heights - and Rent will be in previews.

There are lots of small neighborhood restaurants that do a nice job without charging a fortune for a trendy spot.

lovetotravel222

Go see Accomplice:The Village at www.accomplicetheshow.com. They sometimes offer specials. It is part walking tour, part theater and part game, all over the West Village. It is one of those unique experiences where both the teenagers and parents are laughing at the same time. There are actors placed in all of these public bars and restaurants and you have to search them out and get information from them... enjoy! They were offering discounted tickets at one point not sure if they are anymore, but you get some drinks and snacks in the places along the way so it is worth the $55.00 anyway.

bigbrowntruck

Is it better to buy show tickets now or should I buy them at the discount place there the day of the show? What about Wicked? I would like to see two shows any opinions? I sure hope the weather is nice for us. I did book the Westin. I hope it is easy to get to everything from there.

sf7307

Rent?

butnotrmpt

Wicked is great. But I doubt you will find it discounted anywhere. I personally would rather pay the ticket fee and buy the tickets discounted from one of the discount websites (playbill.com, theatermania.com) for a show I know I want to see, rather than stand in line and hope I get something I want to see. But loads of people do the ticket booth. If you go that route, I believe there is a branch downtown where the lines are absent and you can get the tickets a little earlier. Maybe someone else knows about that.

Centralparkgirl

I personally would buy now and consider the following which are discounted: In the Heights, Chicago, Mamma Mia, Ave Q and Phantom. The discount offers are ending mid March, but I would keeping checking playbill.com (register to have access to discounted tix). With this economy, many discounts will be continued. If you have your heart set on a particular show, then full price is the way to go if they are available.

Isn't there a lottery for Wicked tickets?

butnotrmpt

sf3707 - Hair, not Rent. I was thinking Hair - and Rent came out of my fingertips. Sorry.

kelliebellie

There is a new show on Broadway that she might like. I guess it is sort of like a rock concert and it has an American Idol in it.

http://www.rockofagesmusical.com/

It says previews start two days before you get there. And tickets are not bad at all.

A kid from my high school class wrote it, so I'm curious to hear how it is.

Here is a faq about bringing kids:

Rock of Ages is a full-out, blast-off, hold-onto-your-hairspray celebration of the great rock music of the 80s, and you might be wondering—or, admit it, hoping—your kids will love it as much as you will. Well, we think they will, but you should know that some of the costumes, dancing and language might not be appropriate for kids under the age of 14. We think teenagers will dig it, because it’s totally awesome, sort of like a music video brought to life, complete with hot dancers and blazing guitar licks. You know the maturity of your children, so we suggest you use your best judgment about whether or not the show is appropriate for them. Remember, if you do bring them, they’ll get to see you rockin’ like you did back in the day. Just so you know.

sf7307

Hair....thanks.

butnotrmpt

I LOVED Avenue Q - saw it with my then 22 year old son. I do, however, think there are some who would have a problem with at least one of the numbers if they were sitting there with their 17 year old child. Then again given today's movies and TV shows, maybe this is a non- issue.

If I was choosing from the discounted shows, I would go for either Avenue Q or In The Heights. For the latter, the whole background story of one guy coming up with the concept, writing the music and the lyrics, and starring in the musical, is just amazing. He raps his songs by the way.

bethke14

Hotel: the Westin is great -- I highly recommend it.

For shows, I love In the Heights. Unfortunately, the star/creator will have left (his last performance is this weekend) but I have heard really great things about the new lead, and the show is fabulous.

I like Avenue Q as well -- but it is a bit more adult, and a lot depends on how comfortable your daughter is with seeing a show with her mom when they sing about porn and sex (my mom and I were fine, and both loved it, but I was 23 at the time.) How old is your daughter?

Wicked is really, really great too. If you're leaning towards Wicked, get tickets now as it has never, ever been discounted, and is still doing well, despite the economy.

lma1016

I am going to New York on February 27th with my 18 yo daughter and my father and they really want to see The Lion King. Should I bite the bullet and buy the tickets at full price? Any chance they might get discounted before we go?
Also, we would like to see a little of Central Park and would love advice as to what to see in the winter with only a half day to devote to the park.

mclaurie

Lion King is rarely if ever discounted. If it's a must, buy full price tickets. There are free guided tours of Central Park daily
http://www.centralparknyc.org/site/P...s_walkingtours. There are also self-guided tours on their website.

bigbrowntruck

Okay, My best friend and her daughter are going now. So we have my 17 yr old and a 11 yr old. I need help with shows. I really think I want to see Wicked but the seats are expensive. How are the mezzanine seats? Is it worth 140+ to sit up there? As for other shows what would be appropriate since we have the 11 year old? I want to see at least 2. I was looking at South Pacific or In the Heights. I looked at the TKTS website to see what shows they had last week and they did not sell any tickets for any of the ones I was looking at. What about the Off Broadway shows? We go to Disney World every year so I am not so keen on seeing Lion King etc.. Off topic but do you really think it will be cold in March and maybe snow?? We are coming from Myrtle Beach and not used to cold weather. Whenever it snows here it melts the same day and there is not much of it.

mclaurie

I just want to say I think having an 11 yr old will hamper what you see/do with a 17 yr old daughter. I don't think you all have to be joined at the hip and do everything together.

If budget is an issue, there are plenty of shows appropriate for everyone that are on discount on broadwaybox.com I think In the Heights is fine for everyone and a great show. I think you should take daughter to Ave Q and send friend and her daughter to another show.

March is the most unpredictable month weatherwise. Go to wunderground.com and look at the trip planner and you'll see one year it can be 34 and then next 60 on the same date.